Description
Book SynopsisThis book presents pioneering research on the Indian Ocean archipelago of the Maldives in the medieval period. Primarily archaeological, the book has an interdisciplinary slant, examining the material culture, history, and environment of the islands.
Featuring contributions by leading archaeologists and material culture researchers, the book is the first systematic archaeological monograph devoted to the Maldives. Offering an archaeological account of this island-nation from the beginnings of the Islamic period, it complements and nuances the picture presented by external historical data, which identify the Maldives as a key player in global networks. The book describes excavations and surveys at a medieval site on the island of Kinolhas. It offers a comprehensive analysis of finds of pottery, glass, and cowries, relating them to regional assemblages to add valuable new data to an under-researched field. The artefacts suggest links with India, Sri Lanka, the Middle East
Trade Review
‘This landmark volume is the first systematic archaeological monograph devoted to the Maldives, an understudied crossroads of Indian Ocean circulations. Combining rigorous excavation description with substantive discussions of context and historical interpretation, it highlights a history of global connections linking the Maldives to Africa, Arabia, India, and beyond. This book should become a new standard reference for anyone interested in the history of Indian Ocean networks, economic history, and Islamic studies.’
Professor R. Michael Feener, Kyoto University Center for Southeast Asian Studies/Director, Maritime Asia Heritage Survey
Table of Contents1 Introduction: An Archaeological Study of a Maldivian Island 2 An Overview of Previous Historical and Archaeological Work in the Maldives 3 Approaching the Heritage and Archaeology of Kinolhas 4 Kinolhas: The Trenches and Stratigraphy 5 The Earthenware Pottery 6 The Glazed Pottery: Asian and Islamic Imports 7 The Fauna 8 The Small Finds 9 The Archaeology of the Maldives in the Medieval Period: A Comparative Study 10 Towards an Archaeology of the Medieval Maldives
